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Planning to get married in Goa? www.weddingsetcgoa.com Making your 'dream wedding' possible ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE PRINTED WORD :: By Frederick Noronha :: [email protected] Taking another look, at Goa EVERY once in a while, a book that should feature in these columns doesn't get included. For that, this columnist should take the blame. Sometimes, it's oversight. Or maybe it's because of not looking close enough. At other times, it's because a brief mention in some column pre-empts the possibility of a more detailed look. But no excuses here. Pantaleão Fernandes' "100 Goan Experiences" was first published in 2006, probably before this column was initiated, and then kept getting reprinted. What makes this book different in the Goa market is Fernandes' figure that he has printed 14,000 copies, and either sold or distributed nearly 13,000 of these so far. In a Goa where the average print-run for a book is usually a thousand copies -- sometimes even 500 -- to come out with such a large print-run is an achievement in itself. Because of its nature -- as a rather practical and uncomplicated guide on what to do while in Goa -- the book has had a direct appeal to the tourist. To shore up its numbers, the Goa tourism department has also bulk-ordered some 5000 copies of the book. Yet, the numbers attained are an achievement. * * * This book contains what one would expect of it. Fernandes tells a visitor to Goa -- or even the potential local reader, since we barely know our own state well enough -- what are the possible things one could spend time doing while here. Not long back, the Goan tourism market was critiqued because it offered few options for the visitor. It probably still does; but at least there's a growing awareness. This shortage of things-to-do was felt even more strongly because of all the hype about tourism in Goa. By visiting and photographing these places himself, Fernandes (who earlier photographed almost every church of Goa for Jose Lourenço's 'Parish Churches of Goa') puts together an informative book. It seems to be aimed at the average reader, not the skilled Goaphile, but someone who wants to get started in understanding his or her own region. Each page of the book has three to four photographs, highlighting the charms of one particular spot, activity or structure. In this manner, it suggests a total of 100 "experiences". These range from cruising along the coast to driving a vintage car, and going go-karting. Some activities are traditional and age-old -- like going fishing, visiting a spring (Rivona, Canaguinim, Boca de Vaca get mentioned, though there are many more, some in a concern-causing state of disrepair or pollution), or swimming in the sea. Others are more touristy: watching birds from a canoe at Chorao, visiting Goa's "biggest house" at Chandor, checking out the 16th century Safa Shahouri Masjid at Ponda, or strolling along the (long under renovation) Palácio de Idalcão. So much changes in Goa in a short time; almost every tourist 'season'. If you were wondering where that much published photo of Scarlett Keeling -- on the back of an elephant -- came from, Fernandes gives a hint that it's probably from Sahakari Spice Farm, at Curti in Ponda. The good thing about this book is that Fernandes goes beyond the already-known, by offering some scenic photographs, or additional information. Instead of just Dudhsagar, he suggests you visit the little-known Savare waterfall (after Netravali). You actually get to see photographs in colour of the Budbudyanchi Talli (The Bubbling Lake), also at Netravali, and what it means to walk along the seabed at Baina beach. Fernandes has captured good photos of Betul's Baradi (both sunset and the meandering rivulets), and details of Goa's otherwise not much photographed sacred groves. He visually takes you to temple ruins at Vichundrem (Sanguem), Sunday mass at the Raj Bhavan, and the "distinct profile" of the Jain temple at Kudnem. Fernandes makes it sound exotic when he suggests you "meditate under a brass roof". The reference? To the 18th century temple of Veling, close to Ponda. By highlighting the azulejos (traditional blue tiles) at the Institute Menezes Braganza, and suggesting a visit to the Palacio de Deao, Goa's diversity is also encapsulated in this slender but informative book. There is a section of Goa's churches and temples, which, perhaps because they have been so often recommended, seem more of the expected. Goa's museums, small in number but growing and a few of which are fairly attractive, are also adequately covered here. Some cliché suggestions enter the book, but others -- antique shops, going to the tiatr, lacquer craftsmanship -- could remind us of what we have overlooked. Given the focus on the tourist, there is also a small section covering shopping possibilities. House boats, floating restaurants, feni distilleries, fresh toddy (quickly vanishing from many parts of Goa), 'mingling' at a village fair, and even hiring a local motorcycle 'pilot' are among Fernandes' other suggestions. Football, bicycling and even speaking Konkani are what his other pointers lead to. * * * To add to the book's unusual nature, Fernandes was himself in contracting and engineering, before taking wholeheartedly to becoming an author, publisher and photographer. What would he consider the important factors that go into a successful book? "Whenever I myself go to a bookstall, I tend to always go through the images in a book. I may ignore the text, but the pictures I'd make sure to glance through. Having a lot of visuals does help in selling the book." Fernandes adds: "Children too say they like my book too. The picture-language is very good for the children. Then, brevity of the text is another factor. Whatever it is, it seems to have clicked." Marketing, says Fernandes, is important too. Getting a book known is key. He agrees with the idea that places like the Ravindra Bhavan at Margao or the Kala Academy could use a bit of their vast space to host a permanent exhibition of books published in Goa. "Something of this kind will go a long way in building awareness and promoting the reading habit in Goa. At the moment, there is a tendency to go to the internet, and surf porn. Reading locally-relevant material could change this." Fernandes is of the view that most people don't go specifically to a bookshop to buy books. In such a context, it's important to make books visible in diverse places, and easier to buy. "When people come across a local title, at least they will take the trouble of checking it out," says he. "100 (Goan experiences) is a good number and it has worked well for me," jokes Fernandes. He feels very strongly that one needs to mentally visualise the possibility of being successful, before one encounters success. "When I did the book, I had no backing. But I visualised, that when people see it, they would like it and would be picked up. This is exactly what happened. It's best to make money the correct way, rather than struggle via the maze of corruption," says he. All in all, a useful compilation from a deep Goaphile to anyone wanting to get a 'beginners guide to Goa'. Percival Noronha, secretary of the Indian Heritage Society (Goa chapter) says this in the foreword: "By putting together in visual form the main facets of our natural and man-made heritage, the author is rendering a great service to his motherland." This 102-page book is priced at Rs 395 (hard-bound), printed on quality paper with most pages in colour, and is easily available at bookshops across the state. Contact the author: [email protected] Photos: Cover: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/3988238644/sizes/l/ Author: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/3987481233/sizes/l/ Author: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/3987480367/sizes/l/ First published in Gomantak Times.
